मेघाम्बुसिक्तो वर्षासु वीरासनमसेवत । नित्यं च शिशिरे काले जलमध्यप्रतिश्रयः ।। ७.१०.
Drenched by rain during the rainy season, he maintained the hero's posture, and in the cold season, he always stayed immersed in water.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि दश तस्यातिचक्रमुः । धर्मे प्रयतमानस्य सत्पथे निष्ठितस्य च ।। ७.१०.
In this way, ten thousand years passed for him, as he remained devoted to righteousness and firmly established on the path of virtue.
विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा नित्यं धर्मपरः शुचिः । पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि पादेनैकेन तस्थिवान् ।। ७.१०.
But Vibhīṣaṇa, whose nature was righteous, ever intent on dharma and pure, stood on one foot for five thousand years.
समाप्ते नियमे तस्य ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः । पपात पुष्पवर्षं च क्षुभिताश्चापि देवताः ।। ७.१०.
When his vow was completed, the hosts of Apsarases danced, a shower of flowers fell, and even the gods were stirred.
पञ्चवर्षसहस्राणि सूर्यं चैवान्ववर्तत । तस्थौ चोर्ध्वशिरोबाहुः स्वाध्यायधृतमानसः ।। ७.१०.
For five thousand years, he followed the course of the sun, standing with arms and head raised, his mind absorbed in sacred recitation.
एवं विभीषणस्यापि स्वर्गस्थस्येव नन्दने । दशवर्षसहस्राणि गतानि नियतात्मनः ।। ७.१०.
Thus, for Vibhīṣaṇa too, whose self was disciplined, ten thousand years passed as if in Nandana, the heavenly garden.
दशवर्षसहस्रं तु निराहारो दशाननः । पूर्णे वर्षसहस्रे तु शिरश्चाग्नौ जुहाव सः ।। ७.१०.
But Rāvaṇa, the ten-headed one, remained without food for ten thousand years; and at the completion of each thousand years, he offered one of his heads into the fire.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि नव तस्यातिचक्रमुः । शिरांसि नव चाप्यस्य प्रविष्टानि हुताशनम् ।। ७.१०.
In this way, nine thousand years passed for him, and nine of his heads had entered the fire.
अथ वर्षसहस्रे तु दशमे दशमं शिरः । छेत्तुकामे दशग्रीवे प्राप्तस्तत्र पितामहः ।। ७.१०.
Then, at the tenth thousandth year, as Rāvaṇa was about to cut off his tenth head, the Grandfather (Brahmā) appeared there.
पितामहस्तु सुप्रीतः सार्धं देवैरुपस्थितः । तव तावद्दशग्रीव प्रीतो ऽस्मीत्यभ्यभाषत ।। ७.१०.
The Grandfather, well pleased, arrived together with the gods and spoke to you, O ten-headed one: 'I am pleased with you.'
शीघ्रं वरय धर्मज्ञ वरो यस्ते ऽभिकाङ्क्षितः । कं ते कामं करोम्यद्य न वृथा ते परिश्रमः ।। ७.१०.
'Quickly choose a boon, O knower of dharma, whichever boon you desire; today I will grant your wish—your effort has not been in vain.'
अथाब्रवीदृशग्रीवः प्रहृष्टेनान्तरात्मना । प्रणम्य शिरसा देवं हर्षगद्गदया गिरा ।। ७.१०.
Then the ten-headed one, his inner being delighted, bowed his head to the god and spoke with a voice choked with joy.
भगवन्प्राणिनां नित्यं नान्यत्र मरणाद्भयम् । नास्ति मृत्युसमः शत्रुरमरत्वमहं वृणे ।। ७.१०.
'Lord, for living beings there is always fear only from death; there is no enemy equal to death. I choose immortality.'
एवमुक्तस्तदा ब्रह्मा दशग्रीवमुवाच ह । नास्ति सर्वामरत्वं ते वरमन्यं वृणीष्व मे ।। ७.१०.
Thus addressed, Brahmā then spoke to the ten-headed one: 'Universal immortality is not possible for you; choose another boon from me.'
एवमुक्ते तदा राम ब्रह्मणा लोककर्तृणा । दशग्रीव उवाचेदं कृताञ्जलिरथाग्रतः ।। ७.१०.
When the creator Brahmā had spoken thus, O Rāma, the ten-headed one, with joined palms, spoke these words before him.
सुपर्णनागयक्षाणां दैत्यदानवरक्षसाम् । अवध्यो ऽहं प्रजाध्यक्ष देवतानां च शाश्वत ।। ७.१०.
'Let me be invulnerable, O lord of creatures, to Garuḍas, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Daityas, Dānavas, Rākṣasas, and the gods, forever.'
नहि चिन्ता ममान्येषु प्राणिष्वमरपूजित । तृणभूता हि ते मन्ये प्राणिनो मानुषादयः ।। ७.१०.
'I have no concern for other beings, O honored immortal; for I consider humans and the like as insignificant as grass.'
एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा दशग्रीवेण रक्षसा । उवाच वचनं देवः सह देवैः पितामहः ।। ७.१०.
Thus addressed by the righteous ten-headed Rākṣasa, the god Brahmā, together with the gods, spoke these words.
भविष्यत्येवमेतत्ते वचो राक्षसपुङ्गव । एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः ।। ७.१०.
'So shall it be as you have said, O foremost of Rākṣasas.' Having spoken thus, O Rāma, the Grandfather addressed the ten-headed one.
शृणु चापि वरो भूयः प्रीतस्येह शुभो मम । हुतानि यानि शीर्षाणि पूर्वमग्नौ त्वयानघ ।। ७.१०.
Hear also, out of affection, another excellent boon of mine: the heads which you previously offered into the fire, O faultless one, O Rakshasa, shall be restored to you.
पुनस्तानि भविष्यन्ति तथैव तव राक्षस । वितरामीह ते सौम्य वरं चान्यं दुरासदम् ।। ७.१०.
Those very heads shall be yours again, just as before, O Rakshasa; and here I grant you, gentle one, another boon, difficult to obtain.
छन्दतस्तव रूपं च मनसा यद्यथेप्सितम् । भविष्यति न सन्देहो मद्वरात्तवराक्षस ।। ७.१०.
By my boon, O best of Rakshasas, your form shall become, without doubt, whatever you desire, according to your will and wish.
एवं पितामहोक्तस्य दशग्रीवस्य रक्षसः । अग्नौ हुतानि शीर्षाणि पुनस्तान्युत्थितानि वै ।। ७.१०.
Thus, as spoken by the Grandfather, the heads of the ten-necked Rakshasa, which had been offered into the fire, indeed arose again.
एवमुक्त्वा तु तं राम दशग्रीवं पितामहः । विभीषणमथोवाच वाक्यं लोकपितामहः ।। ७.१०.
Having thus addressed the ten-necked one, O Rama, the Grandfather of the worlds then spoke these words to Vibhishana.
विभीषण त्वया वत्स धर्मसंहितबुद्धिना । परितुष्टो ऽस्मि धर्मात्मन्वरं वरय सुव्रत ।। ७.१०.
Vibhishana, my child, endowed with a mind set on righteousness, I am pleased with you; O virtuous one, choose a boon.
विभीषणस्तु धर्मात्मा वचनं प्राह साञ्जलिः । वृतः सर्वगुणैर्नित्यं चन्द्रमा रश्मिभिर्यथा ।। ७.१०.
Vibhishana, righteous in soul, with joined palms, spoke these words, ever endowed with all virtues, like the moon with its rays.
भगवन्कृतकृत्यो ऽहं यन्मे लोकगुरुः स्वयम् । प्रीतेन यदि दातव्यो वरो मे शृणु सुव्रत ।। ७.१०.
O Lord, I am fulfilled, for the Teacher of the world himself addresses me; but if, out of affection, you wish to grant me a boon, hear it, O virtuous one.
परमापद्गतस्यापि धर्मे मम मतिर्भवेत् । अशिक्षितं च ब्रह्मास्त्रं भगवन्प्रतिभातु मे ।। ७.१०.
Even in the greatest danger, may my mind remain fixed on righteousness; and may the knowledge of the Brahma-weapon, though unlearned, arise in me, O Lord.
या या मे जायते बुद्धिर्येषु येष्वाश्रमेषु च । सा सा भवतु धर्मिष्ठा तं तु धर्मं च पालये ।। ७.१०.
Whatever understanding arises in me, in whatever ashram or situation, may each one be firmly established in righteousness, and may I uphold that dharma.
एष मे परमोदार वरः परमको मतः । नहि धर्माभिरक्तानां लोके किञ्चन दुर्लभम् ।। ७.१०.
This, to me, is the highest and most noble boon; for nothing is difficult to obtain in this world for those devoted to righteousness.